The Cyclopedia of the Colored Baptists of Alabama: Their Leaders and Their Work

by Charles Octavius Boothe

EIGHTH SESSION.

Held in Mobile, November, 1875. The officers elected were as follows: Rev. J. A. Foster, president; Rev. M. Tyler, vice-president; Rev. J. W. Stevens, corresponding secretary; Rev. Thomas Smith, treasurer, and Rev. C. O. Boothe, clerk. Ten Associations were enrolled this year. Brother McAlpine reported $90 in favor of the Convention as the result of six months’ work. The body was never so much aroused as during this session. Some trouble arose over contentions among the churches in Mobile. Rev. W. H. McAlpine was appointed missionary and agent of the Convention for the ensuing conventional year. Rev. C. O. Boothe was appointed, with Brother McAlpine, to aid in searching for a suitable location for the proposed school, and was authorized to call the attention of our Northern brethren to our needs and operations regarding educational facilities in Alabama. Never did any set of men appear to be more earnest and enthusiastic. Every eye was on McAlpine as the leader.

NINTH SESSION.

Held with the Mount Canaan Church, Talladega, November 15-20, 1876. Officers: Rev. M. Tyler, president; Rev. B. J. Burke, vice-president; Rev. I. Smith, treasurer; Rev. G. C. Casby, Montgomery, corresponding secretary, and Rev. C. O. Boothe, at this time pastor in Talladega, was continued as clerk.

This session of the body may be denominated “The Eventful Session.” Here the sainted Woodsmall was met for the first time, and bore the Convention the following:

“Indianapolis, Ind., November 11, 1876.

“Dear Brethren of the Convention: On behalf of the Indiana Baptist State Convention, I greet you with this epistle, bearing their congratulations and sympathy. We are engaged in a common cause with you—the cause of our blessed Lord and Master. * * * So we strike glad hands with you for a renewal and continuance of the gospel warfare till Jesus comes.”

This bore the signature of Dr. Wyeth, editor of the Journal and Messenger, and the Secretary of the Indiana Convention. This was good tidings, and the information that Brother Woodsmall had come to hold Ministers’ Institutes among us was still better tidings. Thenceforward we were to drink from a very high type of manhood.

Revs. W. J. White, F. Quarles, and Bryan, of Georgia, came with propositions from the Georgia Convention that Alabama should give up her school project and join Georgia in building a school at Atlanta.

A letter received from Dr. S. S. Cutting, corresponding secretary of the Home Mission Society, to the clerk, informed the Convention that his board had no help for our school enterprise in Alabama, and favored our union with Georgia.